World

Your average museum visit probably doesn't involve getting up close and personal with a space probe or the Doctor Who TARDIS. After all, these objects belong to the fantastical worlds of science fiction. But one team hopes to soon open a preview location for a larger, permanent space dedicated entirely to all things cool and futuristic.

An Indiegogo campaign asks funders to help finance the construction of the Museum of Science Fiction. If the team raises enough money, it will unveil a preview museum in 2014 in Washington, D.C. The 3,000-square-foot location will house some of the initial objects that will be on display at the permanent location. It will also serve as a space for film screenings, public lectures and more. The team plans to open the official museum in late 2014.

Greg Viggiano, executive director of the Museum of Science Fiction, told Mashable thought of the idea for the museum when doing research for a science fiction screenplay.

"I was looking for any science-fiction museum that might be able to assist me with some of the information I was looking for, and I wasn’t really able to find the resources," Viggiano said. "I thought, gosh, if there’s not a science-fiction museum, there ought to be one."

With encouragement from friends, he began plans for the museum and as word spread, more people got involved. The process began in early April and the team gradually grew, reaching about 40 members six months later. Within the first few days of the Indiegogo campaign, around 60 volunteers reached out to offer their help.

The Indiegogo campaign shows floor plans and collections of the preview museum so far, including objects like a Doctor Who TARDIS police box and a live Blade Runner panorama. Viggiano says that the official museum will feature sections dedicated to everything from time travel to technology to aliens.

The museum will display works related to art, literature, film and more. They will come from different sources, ranging from art collectors Howard and Jane Frank to science-fiction artifact collector Adam Schneider.

Viggiano envisions the museum as a place to not only admire objects but interact with them.

"We want to really do this is in a really innovative way and use mobile applications and wireless technology in the museum so children can come in and interact with the different display objects and exhibits," said Viggiano.

A video on the Indiegogo page, below, shows a little girl wearing Google Glass giving voice commands to a space probe. In this particular example, he elaborates, the interactive component happens through the use of Google Glass, voice commands and augmented reality.

But the museum won't let kids hog all the fun. Different exhibitions will reportedly entertain a range of age groups and include other tech bonuses like mobile applications.

A science fiction museum and hall of fame currently exists in the Experience Music Project Museum in Seattle, Wash., but the Museum of Science Fiction would dedicate more space and attention specifically to sci-fi, according to its team.

The museum's Indiegogo campaign has raised $24,514 out of a $160,000 goal. The campaign ends Dec. 11.

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is a leading source for news, information and resources for the Connected Generation. Mashable reports on the importance of digital innovation and how it empowers and inspires people around the world. Mashable's record 42 million unique visitors worldwide and 21 million social media followers are one of the most influential and engaged online communities. Founded in 2005, Mashable is headquartered in New York City with an office in San Francisco.